CAN YOU HELP?

Peter Collister, Can anyone help me find the birthplace of John Collister,
Civil Engineer, who married Mary Kellett at Leyland, Lancs. on 31st January,
1839 and died in Kensington on 9th October, 1868. Circumstantial evidence and
family legend support the theory that he was the son of John Collister of Shen
Valley who was drowned crossing a marsh on 18th March, 1839 (Advertiser 26th
March) 1839). In his sisters will (Esther Collister of Shen Valley) a
bequest was made to John Collister, a surveyor from beyond the sea
and this could well be the Civil Engineer in Lancashire. Unfortunately
the 1841 census shows only that he was born outside Lancashire, but not where.

In my recent book Then A Soldier which is mainly
concerned with my experiences as an infantry soldier and late officer
in the retreat from Burma in 1942 and subsequent campaigns.
(Published by Churchmans and selling at £6.95 from bookshops or
£5.50 from R.H.Q. Gloster. Regr, Custom House, 31 Commercial
Road, Gloucester GL1 2HE profits to the regimental museum), I
write of my familys Manx origin and subsequent history. John
Collisters son, J. C. Collister, went on to become agent (or
general manager) of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, his son, my
Uncle Jack Collister was Chief Engineer of the Bengal and Negpur
Railway, my father Sir Harold Collister was in the Indian Civil
Service for 37 years and I was born in India, served there in the
army, as well as in Burma and have been there regularly since, whilst
working for the Overseas Development Administration until retiring
some years ago. My son Robert Collister has led mountaineering
expeditions based in India.

I would be interested to hear of any other Manx/India connection
on which I am thinking of writing a book once my next one
(Mission to Bhutan) has come out at the end of the
year.

Barbara Howard, NSW Australia

I am doing some genealogy research and my line on my mothers
side leads back to the Isle of Man.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could circulate the following
pedigree amongst your members. If any of them have crossed the line I
would very much like to correspond with them.

STAR OF INDIA SAILS AGAIN

The STAR OF INDIA, oldest ironhulled sailing ship afloat,
which was built and launched as the EUTERPE at Ramsey, I.O.M. in
1863, and now permanently berthed in San Diego, California, sailed
again May 25th, 1986. This is only the third time she has sailed
since 1923. The last two sailings were July 4th 1976 and November
11th, 1984. These sailings are made possible through volunteer labor
and private organization/citizen financial and material
donations.

Dockside ceremonies included both British and American music
played by the U.S. Navy Band. The anchor was lifted about 9.00 a.m.,
and tugboats guided her out of the channel. One could almost sense
her "chomping at the bit" as she waited for the tugboats to release
her so that she could once again be in her element, with her sails
unfurled and the wind at her back.

Thousands watched and cheered as, magestically, she sailed several
miles up the coast of California, about five miles offshore. She was
accompanied by hundreds of private boats. which were kept at a safe
distance by the U.S. Coast Guard. Then she returned to her home,
dockside at the Embarcadero, tying up at about 5.30 p.m. There she
will wait patiently for the next opportunity to show off her Manx
heritage of durability and dependability. She has survived storms, a
collision at sea with another ship, and near deterioration, and is
testimony to the Manx motto "No matter which way you throw me, I
stand".

MARGE WEBER, SAN DIEGO

CHRISTMAS 1986

By the time you receive this journal, many of your thoughts will
be turning to the Xmas festivities. Local members can look forward to
our Christmas Dinner in Peel on December, 19th. Further details and
advance bookings can be made with the Secretary.

To all our overseas members, may I on behalf of the society be the
first to offer a festive greeting.

"OLLICK GHENNAL ERRIU AS BLEIN FEER VIE, AS BAILL VEIH JEE
DIU"

"A merry Christmas on ye, and a very good year, prosperity from
God to you".

EDITOR

EXTRACTS FROM NOBLESS HOSPITAL REPORTS
(MANX MUSEUM) 19141918

(Ref. to "Island at War" July 1986 Journal)

1914 Nurses and matron treating British troops and internees.

1915 Five of the nurses are away, Sister Stewart is in Malta, on a
hospital ship, another sister is in Egypt, three others are in
military hospitals.

There are prisoners and soldiers being treated in the hospital
(Nobles). 1916 Sister Stewart who was in charge of a hospital ship at
Malta is now in charge of a hospital near the French lines.

1917 Sixteen nurses have joined the Q.A. a and T.N.S. Sister
Stewart is in France, Sister Cowin in Salonica, Sister Fayle in
France. Joughin and Paterson are in Egypt. Nurse Frszer is at St.
Albans, Nurse Kermode in Dartford. Nurse Murray is with the
Devonshire Red Cross Hospital. Nurse Simpson and H. S. Benson are
working in Buxton. Nurse Timby is with the Territorial Forces, 1st
Western General Hospital. Nurse N. K. Rothwell is staff nurse at the
Samaritan Hospital, London.

These reports were given to the Committee by the matron, Miss
Esther Jane Bridson. She was trained at the Royal Southern Hospital,
became matron of Nobles Hospital 1905/6 and continued as matron until
her retirement  December 31st, 1922. She died on September 18th
1940. Born Aug. 8th 1863, daughter of John Bridson of Ballaquiggin,
buried St. Anton in grave of her uncle C.C. Kissack (first grave on
left hand side of churchyard). Her brother is also buried there.
Thomas Arthur Bridson age 105. Climbed Snaefell each year up to the
age of 100. Miss Kneen of 26 Selbourne Drive has a painting of Miss
Bridson done by her step uncle

T. A. Bridson.

Ref. Island at War by Margery West

Bell Nellie of Blair Athol, Port St. Mary was the district nurse
there missing from annual reports 1914-1918, returned 1919 for one
year.

Quirk Dily E. was district nurse Peel from 1919 until 1932 or even
longer.

MARY McARDY

INTER-ISLAND STRAYS KIRK SANTAN BAPTISMS

CHRISTIAN NAME/S

ABODE

F-NAME

F-TRADE

MNAME

D.O.B.

Philis Maud

Rushen

FARGHER, John Moore

Farmer

, Nora Marjorie

9.11.1924

Lilian May

Marown

KELLY, Caesar Corrin

Labourer

FARGHER, Elizabeth

3. 9.1911

Elizabeth Mildred

Douglas

CRETNEY, John Edward

Carter

GELLING, Elizabeth

17. 6.1906

William Arthur

German

LAWSON, William

Labourer

, Catherine Helena

27. 9.1905

Margaret Ann

Malew

TASKER, Edward

Labourer

, Matilda

12.10.1890

Amelia Bertha

Douglas

QUINNEY, Thomas

Salesman

, Alice

18. 5.1890

Amy

Douglas



KIBBLE, Isabella

27.11.1878

Agnes Birket

Ramsey



OWEN, Amy Sutton

22. 5.1876

Louisa Adelaide

Douglas

MOLE, Cornelius

Butcher

, Maria

8. 6.1870

Maria

Patrick

BELL, Caesar John

Labourer

BENSON, Margaret

14.12.1856

Esther

Malew

QUINNEY, Thomas



BRIDSON, Elizabeth

22. 1.1843

William

Malew

WILSON, Thomas

Labourer

COWLL, Catherine

28. 8.1842

James

Malew

BRIDSON, Robert

Labourer

KILLEY, Margaret

23. 1.1842

Elizabeth

Braddan

FARGHER, William

Labourer

GILMOR, Catherine

28.10.1838

Frances

Malew

McGREERY, John

Publican

DAWSON, Margaret

27. 6.1838

James

Malew

CORLETT, John

Labourer

COLLISTER, Mary

11. 4.1838

John James

German

CORRIS, John

Farmer

CREER, Ann

28. 5.1836

Isabella

Malew

KELLY, William

Shoemaker

KIRK, Isabella

22. 5.1836

Margaret

Braddan

MYLCHREEST, Edward

Labourer

QUINE, Elizabeth

15. 5.1836

Thomas

Braddan

COWIN, Robert

LABOURER

WATERSON, Jane

20.12.1836

ROGER CHRISTIAN

Strays Coordinator

SAINT ADAMNANS CHURCH, LONAN (LONAN OLD
CHURCH)

This ancient church in the See of Sodor and Mann was, until the
year 1835, the Parish Church of Kirk
Lonan.

The Parish takes its name from Saint Lonan a nephew and disciple
of Saint Patrick, about whom little is known, though there is a
tradition in the Manx Church that he was its third Bishop, following
first Saint German who was commissioned by Saint Patrick to convert
Mann, and secondly Saint Maughold.

There are eight Lonans in the early church records; of these one
has his Saints Day on August 5th, which almost coincides with
Old Lonan Fair Day, August 2nd.

This "Old Church", as it is lovingly called throughout the Parish,
is dedicated to Saint Adamnan, who lived from about 624 to 704 A.D.
and who was the biographer of Saint Columba, founder and first Abbot
of lona in 563 A.D. Saint Adamnan became ninth Abbot of Iona, ruling
from 679 A.D. to his death in 704.

In religious thinking he was a man of vision, but was rarely able
to carry his own Monks along with him in his advanced ideas for the
ministry of the Church.

He was, at one time, expelled by his Church for daring to say the
Mass, and have the Scriptures translated to be read in the native
tongue. Saint Adamnan, as one of the leaders of the Celtic Catholic
Church which followed the teachings of Saint John was sent on a
mission to King Alfred and the leaders of the Roman Catholic Church
which followed the teachings of Saint Peter. This meeting was to
persuade the Celtic Catholic Church to celebrate a unified date for
Easter and observe the canonical rites of the Roman Catholic Church.
Adamnan decided that this would benefit Christianity and forge a
united Church, though the Celts would thereby loge their independence
which they had refused to surrender to the tactless Saint Augustine
some years previously.

In this movement Adamnan carried with him most of Ireland and
Scotland, but not his own Monastry. Iona did not conform until 715
after his death.

Bede says "he was a wise and worthy man, excellently grounded in
the Scriptures!

Adamnan was also the writer of a book on the travels in the Holy
Land of Arculf, Bishop of Gaul.

This book he presented to King Alfred at the meeting in
Canterbury, and the King caused it to be circulated for many to
read.

In the Isle of Man Saint Adamnan was greatly revered by the
natives for using their local speech, and especially by the womenfolk
for his courage in openly condemning the evil practice of taking
women and children as hostages in the tribal raids, and even at times
using them as human shields.

His day is celebrated on September, 23rd. His name is to be found
in the runes on stone numbered 114 in Kirk Maughold Cross House.
These runes, translated, read "Christ, Malachi, and Patrick and
Adamnan, but of all the sheep is John the Priest in Cornadale". This
Crossstone was from "Keill Voirrey" or "the little chapel of
St. Mary", on the slopes of North Barrule in the treen of Coma More
above Cornaa Valley.

This little Church of Saint Adamnan had, long ago, a Manx name
"KeeilnyTraie" The little chapel by the shore, not
probably the seashore, but the edge of the marshy land in the
dell below. Two old Keeills shared this name and this Saints
dedication, the other one being in the quarterland of Ardonan in the
treen of Regaby in the Parish of Kirk Andreas.

(photo (c) FPC replaces original

It is interesting to note that North of the Isle of Man, across in
Wigtownshire, this name also appears in the neighbourhood of Port
William as "Killantrae". This area, of course is the scene of Saint
Ninians work.

The old Manx word "Keill"  "little chapel" is now generally
found in place names as "kill".

To understand the place of the "keeifl," in the early history of
the Manx Church it will help if some explanation of the conversion of
the Manx people to worship God, through Our Saviour Jesus Christ, is
given.

In preChristian days Mann was known and described by the
chroniclers as Inis Falga" that is the "Noble Isle" and the legendary
god worshipped by its inhabitants was "Manannan Mac Lir", that is the
"Son of the Sea". He was reputed to be a wizard who was able to
conceal Mann beneath a mantle of mist when her safety was threatened,
and make omman appear to be a hundred to its enemies.

Saint Patricks name has always been given reverence by the
Manx people for lighting the lamp of Christianity in our Island, and,
as a nation, in 1947 we celebrated the fifteenhundredth
anniversary of the landing of his disciples, sent here as
missionaries. His name is to be found throughout the Island naming
the islet on which stands the ruined Cathedral of Saint German, a
parish, two parish churches, nine keills, six wells, and the famous
Saint Patricks Chair on the Garth Farm, Marown. Several farms
are called "Ballakilpherick", the place or home of the Chapel of
Saint Patrick. "Pherick" being the Manx spelling of Patrick, who is
our Patron Saint.

It cannot be proved that Saint Patrick ever set foot on this
Island in person, but it certainly lay in his sphere of influence and
it could well be that he visited one of the places associated with
his name on his journeys to and from Britain. His personal disciples
certainly visited Mann, notably Saint German, who taught from Peel,
and Saint Maughold, miraculously cast ashore on the headland named
after him.

The Irish Missionaries were in Mann from 447 A.D. onwards, and
during the second half of the fifth century numerous keills were
built and such was the good repute of the local Christians that the
Irish Chroniclers record that its name was changed from Inis Falga"
to "Ellan Shiant", that is "The Holy Isle".

The tribal system in Mann in the early days of Christianity was
based on the division of the land into "sheadings", the "sheadings"
being divided into "treens" and the "treens" in their turn into
"quarterlands". The land taxes were paid on the basis of these
divisions.

Each "treen" was divided between four families working their
quarterland of about 100 acres in common, and maintaining on it a
keill or little chapel.

The keills were tiny and simple structures roughly proportioned as
to being twice as long as their width, 14 feet by 7 feet would be a
typical size having field stone walls about 3 feet high and then mud
walls bringing the height to about 5 feet overall, with a thatched
roof of straw or ling. Keills of this typesize are much older
than the period of Norse domination, and are certainly of Celtic
origin. The larger keills, whose breadth is about onethird of
their length, are keills probably rebuilt by the Norwegians on
preViking Christian sites.

Thus every treen had at least one keill or chapel, and the total
number in Mann must have reached more than 200. Of this number the
survey shows that 160 are known in the Island at present, and of
these, 57 keills may be presumed to be considerably older than the
Viking age.

As Saint Adamnan died about 704 A.D. the old keill on this site
must be at least three generations older than the first Viking raid
in 798 A.D.

The Irish Missionaries built some of their early keills on the
sites of pagan places of ancestor worship, and in close proximity to
holy wells which, in pagan times, were also objects of worship.

Twelve keills, in addition to this one, are known to have existed
in the Parish of Lonan, but in this treen, which is called Alia Raby,
there is only this one which is in the quarterland of Ballakilley
(the place or farm of the church). Ballakilley is farmed by Mr. James
Christian, and is close east of the church.

The Parish of Lonan consisted of 14 treens divided into 51
quarterlands, and in the Lords Composition Book of Charles the 8th
Earl of Derby in 1703 paid a gross rent of £31 5s 2d. The treens
of Raby and Alia Raby consisted of 7 quarterlands whose gross rent
was £4 19s 2d.

The Celtic system of Christianity was based on a tribal and
monastic principal of service, and the keills were visited by a
travelling Monk, taking each treen in its turn. There he would say
the Mass and perform such offices as baptisms, weddings, and
funerals. During this visit the Monk lived with the quarterlands
families and helped them to work their farms. Thus no Manse or
Parsonage was necessary.

This Parish and its "Old Church" conform to the system, long
sustained, of dedicating the holy places to commemorate the faithful
band of Celtic Christian teachers who followed Saint Patrick and
converted in turn The Isles, South West Scotland, and Mann, when so
much of the rest of Britain was still pagan. Their names are found
everywhere in Mann. In addition to those already mentioned, every
lover of the Island will know the names of Saint Runius, Saint
Bridget, Saint Brandon, Saint Caerbrie, and many others.

As the conquerors settled down in their new possessions to become
landowners and farmers, they intermarried with the Celtic Manx
and were very soon influenced by their wives to stop the persecutions
and to become in time, themselves converted to Jesus Christ. This
happier state of affairs led, from the year 900 A.D. onwards, to a
rebuilding of the keills and the use once more of their ancient
burial grounds.

In 1188, Jocelin, biographer of Saint Patrick, and Abbot of
Rushen, persuaded Reginald, King of Mann, to confirm the grant of
land called "Escadall" to the Prior of Saint Bees in Cumberland. This
settled the earliest recorded lawsuit in Man between the Abbeys of
St. Bees and Rushen over the possession of Escadalla".

"Escadalla" can be loosely translated as "the dell at the head of
the burning," that is this dell which almost completely surrounds
this little church and its glebe fields at the back of Clay Head.

The narrow road below the church, coming up from Groudle beach, is
part of the old main bridle track up the East Coast of the Island.
This probably influenced the Monks of St. Bees to rebuilding this
church and make it the centre of their worship in their "Abbeylands"
allowing the other keills in the parish to fall into disuse. For not
only was St. Adamnans Church adjacent to the main North and
South highway and therefore readily accessible to travellers by land
and sea, but it is reasonable to assume that one or more of the local
quarterland families were powerful and wealthy enough to influence
its choice and support the Monks on their visits. As a parish church
it could not be said to be centrally situated as it lies in the
extreme South East of the Parish, which stretches from Groudle in the
South to the Dhoon in the North.

The Isle of Man passed by conquest from Norway to Scotland in
1265, and soon to England, and the Norse domination was over for
ever. These events led to pressure from the Roman organised Church in
England to bring the Celtic Manx Church to conform to their system of
parish organisation. This system of one church to one parish was the
end of most of the treen keills, though their burial grounds in some
cases continued to be used.

Another important factor in the selection of St. Adamnans as
the first parish church of Lonan would probably be the ancient holy
well called in Manx "ChibberOnan", or in English "St.
Lonans Well". This well is in the little stream in the glebe
field on the South side of the church, and could be reached by the
stile close by the Lonan Cross. The well was formed by three large
blocks of stone, set on edge, one being curiously carved.

A blue slate stone which was discovered here by the Rev. John
Quine, the Vicar of Lonan, in 1906, has a cross carved on each side.
This cross-stone would probably have been stood up by the well. It is
numbered 9 in Kermodes "Manx Crosses", and is now fixed, with
others, on the North wall of the West end.

This well was probably used for the Sacrament of Holy Baptism in
the days of the early Church, when baptism in the "living water" was
the tradition.

In 1733 the parishioners of Lonan petitioned the Lord Bishop of
Sodor and Mann, then Dr. Thomas Wilson, to ask for a new parish
church to be built in a more central and convenient position. After
consideration and delay, a new church was built on a piece of land
called "Booliley Veen", in a more central geographical position, but
almost as difficult of access, causing a critic to remark that "if
the old church was nookshotten the new church is skied; if the
one is stranded like a whale, the other is stranded like Noahs
Ark". This new church did not last for long, and was replaced by the
present church built by Bishop William Ward and dedicated to All
Saints and who consecrated it on May 4th, 1835.

The Act of Tynwald allowing All Saints, Kirk Lonan, to be built,
included a clause ordering the destruction of Saint Adamnans
Church. Fortunately its remoteness and the reluctance of the Manx
people to disturb a holy place, saved it, and this clause was
ignored, but the church soon became ruinous from neglect.

Sixty years later, just in time, a wonderful thing for the life of
the "Old Church" happened: The Rev. John
Quine, M.A. (Oxon) a noted scholar, antiquarian and a great Manx
churchman, was appointed by the Queen to be Vicar of Lonan.

Early in his incumbency he found domestic fowls roosting in the
old building and with loving hands set out to rescue and repair this
holy place.

The Rev. John Quine served this Parish faithfully and well from
1895 to 1940 and became a Canon of the Diocese. He made many
interesting finds in this vicinity and in the Parish. A tablet to his
memory can be seen in the Parish Church.

The Eastern end of the building was restored by Canon Quine. It is
built mainly of quarry stones, largely the old material, some four or
five feet long, laid on their edges. Underneath the wails of this end
were found lintel graves suggesting this was part of the burial
ground when the Western end was the earliest keill.

The Western end of the church has not been restored, and is almost
certainly of much greater age than the Eastern end. The walls here
are of field and shore stones irregularly laid for the most part, but
in one section are regularly cut and laid in an alternate narrow and
broad arrangement. The sandstone lintels of the doorways in the North
and South walls must have been brought from the West coast of the
Island. This West end seems to date from the 12th Century, but about
four feet below its foundations were found the foundations of a much
older building, probably dating back to the 7th or 8th Century. The
doorway on the North side, now blocked up, suggests it may have been
the entrance then, when the internal floor was at a lower level.

The Eastern and Western ends show no bond between their walls
until about four feet above ground level.

As originally planned, the old Manx churches were very dark,
little light coming through the East window. In order to improve the
lighting Canon Quine had re-opened the North window at the
restoration. This window is worthy of examination as a beautiful
example of the builders art. There is no keystone in the arch,
which is wholly composed of small stones on edge. The glass in this
lovely window was designed by the Canon and portrays the emblems
of: Uppermost  The See of Sodor and Mann (The Virgin Mary
and Saint Columba);

In the middle  The Kingdom of Mann and the Isles (The Viking
Ship);

Lowermost  The Abbot of Rushen Abbey (St. Mary de
Rushen).

At this time, too, a new stained glass window for the Chancel was
given by Thomas and Anne Clague, of Ballavarane (the farm close South
of the Church) whose family have for centuries lived and worked their
land there. In the bottom of this window is depicted the flowers of
the cowparsley for which the Manx name is "farrain" suggesting
the origin of the name of the farm.

The former window on the South side is still builtup, though
its outline is visible from outside.

On the South side of the unrestored Western end close to the
dividing wall with the present church can be seen the
"leperslant" from where, when the lepers and beggars crouched
outside they could see the consecration of the bread and the wine at
the Mass, and have their portion, and such alms as the parish granted
them, pushed through. At the time of its use the Holy Table must have
stood somewhere in the vicinity of the present entrance door to the
restored church.

In recent years further gifts have been made to Saint
Adamnans Church.

Group Captain S. L. Quine R.A.F. (retd) a Warden of the
Parish and a son of the late Canon Quine, has presented a reading
Bible for the prayer desk.

The children of the late James and Esther Corkill, formerly of
Ballamenagh (close North of this church) have given a new Communion
Table in memory of their parents and the Altar Cross in memory of
their Stepmother Christian Corkill.

It is interesting to note that on Ballamenagh, amongst the farm
buildings exists the beggars lodging, where the poor homeless
vagrants were housed and fed overnight on their search for casual
work.

The present bell from The Mediator Mini war vessel given by Group
Captain Sylvester Quine.

Other gifts of chairs and furnishings have been made to Gods
Glory and Service by those who have worshipped here, and loving hands
continually care for its preserva tion and decoration.

Two new seats have been provided out of the church monies for
visitors to rest in this beautiful and peaceful place.

It has been suggested that the Font was brought from Old St.
Matthews Church in Douglas, which was.demolished about the time
of the restoration of Saint Adamnans Church.

The Norse influence is missing from this Parish and no Norse Manx
Crosses have been found in Lonan.

Of the seven crosses listed by Mr. P. C. H. Kermode in his book
all are identified as being "uninscribed pre-Scandinavian".

The Lonan Cross, listed NO. 57, stands probably in its original
postition just South of the church. It is a large wheel-cross, 99
inches high, the head 38 inches across, the stone 4 inches thick.
Only one face is carved with an equallimbed Celtic Cross, the
arms connected by two circles, both cross and circles and the space
between are carved with plait-work badly executed. Mr. Kermode
records that this cross gave him the most trouble of all those he
investigated in tracing the plait-work. It is believed to date from
the 5th century and has very much weathered.

Two portions of the Glenroy Cross numbered 49, and in addition
cross-slabs, 8, 40, 41 and 42, are all placed against the North wall
of the West end.

A CALLISTER SEARCH

Philip and Elizabeth Callister (nee Creer) are my husbands
grandparents. I was unsure at first where to start my search of the
family history, Bill Callister my husband had no knowledge of his
ancestors perhaps due to the fact his own father (also named Philip)
died three months after he was born, his mother died over twenty
years ago so I hadnt much to go on. Bill was the youngest of
nine children, his elder sister Eva said his grandfather was in the
police force in Chorley, Lancs. so this was my first lead. I wrote
off to the police records department and received a document of his
police record and also the year he came over from the Isle of Man
(1871) and his address there. With this information I wrote to
Priscilla Lewthwaite, after joining the Manx Family History Society.
Priscilla also helped me to trace back to Philip and Elizabeths
parents, this was a tremendous help. I still wanted to learn more
about their children, thirteen in all, two died before they left the
Island, the others were all born over here in St. Helens and Chorley.
Incidently they changed their name from Collister to Callister when
they came over. Eva also gave me the address of a cousin in Australia
and was very helpful providing me with some old photographs. She told
me his mother (Philips daughter) and father emigrated to Australia in
1920. I also wrote to a cousin in Bracknell, Berks she is
the daughterinlaw to Florence (another of Philips
daughters). Sadly Ruby wroteto say Florence had destroyed all
the old photographs before she died, but she found Philip and
Elizabeths marriage certificate which she photocopied and sent me,
with an address of a lady in Bury Lanes, whose grandfather and
Philip were in fact brothers who both came over here together to join
the police force. Doris was a mind of information, she benows a lot
about the families still living in the Isle of Man and corresponds
regularly. Also she sent me the address of another cousin, this time
in Canada.

[Photo ]PHILIP CALLISTER
b. 1846 Marown at Ballawilley Killey son of ROBERT CALLISTER and ANN
CRELLIN

This was a double bonus because not only did she write to me but
her sister sent me a letter as well. They have both promised to look
up their old photographs and anything they can find that would help.
Again I was provided with another address this time nearer home,
Chorley in fact, another cousin Dora and husband Rydar~ They were a
marvellous find, she had a wonderful collection of old photographs
and was able to tell me where Philip and Elizabeth were buried and a
rough date as to when they died.

Their two sons George and Albert both emigrated to South Africa
and as yet I havnt made any contact with their families. Also a
daughter Maud and her husband Thomas Redden, emigrated to America.
They had a son Philip Redden but again I havnt had any luck
yet.

I have enclosed a family tree to show the progress I have made and
would be very grateful of any help to trace further back.

(This story was used as the basis for the Manx Wedding Ceremony at
Braddan Church, part of the Union Mills heritage celebrations
1986).

MONUMENTAL ANOMALIES

the following inscriptions were read by Sheila and Alan Tarr in
Lezayre Churchyard

In Loving Memory of Marion OSBORNE, daughter of William Edward and
Mary TONKIN, who died at Ramsey. October 21st, 1928. aged 16 years.
Thy Will be done". Also William Edward TONKIN who died April 26th,
1950 aged 71 years. Also Lizzie Mona, his wife, who died September
30th, 1955 in her 75th year. At Pest.

The same inscription appears on two seperate headstones, one on
No. 43, Row A and one on No. 56 in Row E.

LIFE IN BALLAUGH IN THE 1840S

February 28th, 1915. Today is my birthday  seventy four
years. I was born in the year 1841, in the parish of Ballaugh. I was
baptized and catechized for confirmation by our beloved Rector,
Thomas Howard, and was confirmed by Bishop Powys on September 23rd,
1855. In those days we went three months to be catechized; we went to
Church every Sunday afternoon after service, and one night in the
week to the Parsons house, so we were well drilled.

I must tell you what a good man our Rector was, and all in the
parish loved him. He was a teetotaller, and a Manx preacher. In my
young days, when Manx was so much spoken, he preached in Manx every
other Sunday. We had service at eleven in the morning and three in
the afternoon. There was no service at night, so we went to the
Methodist Chapel at six oclock. A service was also held in the
Methodist Chapel at two oclock in the afternoon, and, if we had
a short service, we all went to another service at Church; we were
all friendly.

Mr. Howard came on his rounds to see all who could not come to
Church, and at times of sacrament, he came to their houses to
administer it. He never let a child pass him on the road but he spoke
to it, and had something nice to say, and gave a tract; he always had
his pocket full of tracts. They were not so plentiful in those days
and we prized them. I myself often met him and always had a nice
little cooish. He always said, In the time of youth is the time
to begin serving the Lord. I am speaking from my own
experience. He was an old man when I got married, but I wished
to be married by him. When my father told him of the wedding, and
that I wished to be married by him and not by the curate, he said,
The poor child, and she wants to be married by me. He did
marry me, and he gave us his blessing and prayed over us, and gave us
all a tract each.

Now T am going to tell you of my younger days. My father was a
small farmer, he had four fields of his own, but that was not enough
to keep a pair of horses, and raise a family, so he rented some
fields; but he had such a love for the sea, he went in spells to sea.
He and some of our neighbours had a little smack, they called her the
Edgar Veg. For a short time they traded in her out of Ramsey to
Whitehaven, taking corn and potatoes there, and brought coals back. I
believe they made a fair trade. I had a very good mother, a good
manager; she had to get a man to manage the horses when father was
away. Our horses were so good and quiet, they let us children get on
their backs going to the field or getting them home when they came
from the plough. When their days work was over they came to the door
for their piece of bread, and, if any of us were not there, Jess
would scrape on the flag at the door until we came with it, and then
she and young Jess, her daughter, went to

their stables quietly. Horses are so sensitive it grieves me to
see them abused.

We did all our harvest, shearing the corn with sickles; and we
small farmers found it hard to get workers. The big farmers sent
their carts in good time in the morning and got the good shearers to
go with them, and took them home at night. Sometimes the cartmen
would quarrel over the shearers. Shearing corn was hard work, I would
be too tired at night to sleep. I didnt go to strangers, we had
enough to do at home. We had three big fields on rent from Craine,
the Glaick; it was good land and we had plenty of work. There were no
reaping machines nor steam mills to thresh the corn.

Well the big farmers began to use scythes, and it was a great
improvement. It was much easier to lift the sheaf of corn than to
shear. The first reaping machine that came to the Island, came to a
gentleman that lived at Druidale. He was a very rich man. That was
the first reaping machine that was heard of in the Isle of Man. I
remember the talk of the wonder, and the farmers going past our house
to see it. His land was very late, and he sent to Ireland and got
a batch of Irishmen over to do his harvest. Brook was a
wonderful man, never short of money. I suppose there are not many
that remember him now, but he is quite fresh in my memory, as I often
saw him pass riding on his pony, Galloway, to and from home.

I am not a very good scholar, as in those days schools were not
easy to get to. My brothers went two miles to the low end of the
parish to Mr. Cregeen. He was a very good teacher. I got the little I
have from an English lady who kept a private school in Ballaugh
village. She came to the Island, away from her relations. She was
cheated of her money by her guardians. She was a very good teacher.
We children did not go to school regularly, there were times when
fieldwork had to be done, and we each had our share. We went to
school in whiles when we could be spared. I had to go to herd the
young cattle when they were in fields where the hedges were not good;
bullocks are such thieves. Sometimes when I did get to school, when I
came home in the evening, off with my school clothes, go and get the
stable ready, clean it, and get hay and straw for their nights rest,
poor horses tired ploughing. Sometimes I think that I would like to
go through it all again and still when father gave up the rented
land, and my sister and myself went to live in Ramsey, I was not
sorry, only we were sorry to leave mother.

Father was so fond of the sea, he went to the herrings three
months in summer. Mother said As long as any one gave him a
boat, he wouldnt stay at home. He went skipper over one
of the boats owned by Corris Brothers. They owned boats and a
tanyard. When the season of herrings was over, and winter coming,
father brought two sides of leather from the tanyard, one for uppers
and one for soles of shoes, and we had a shoemaker come in the house
and made our winter stock of shoes. His wages was one shilling a day,
and board and lodging, and he was a good shoemaker.

When they were worn a bit he came to mend them. There was no shoes
nor boots from away, everything was made at home. The shoemakers and
weavers were plentiful in those days. Our blankets, flannels, cloth
for the mens suits, plaids for us womens frocks or
dresses, all made at home, spun by mother with a woman to help. We
sent the wool to the carding mill to get the rolls made, and spun
them at home. My eldest brother served his time as a joiner, and when
he went to Liverpool to work, dressed in Manx clothes, he was looked
on as a sailor. Mother had to get him an English suit, as his cousins
didnt like his coarse dress on Sundays. He worked at his trade
some years, and got restless  liked the sea like father, and
went as carpenter on a big ship with three hundred soldiers to the
Crimean War, the ship was the Goiconda. He went three voyages in the
same ship, his last voyage was to Australia, and he left the ship and
settled there. I suppose he had enough of sea.

Now I am going to tell you how we bleached the linen that was
grown and cleaned, and spun at home and woven. I often helped with a
neighbour who did that work, such nice linen for tablecloths 
with a kind of wavy pattern woven in it, a nice diaper for bedroom
towels, and such big webs for sheets. I think there must be some of
those linen sheets in the Wattieworth family yet, such big webs came
from Ballawattieworth. When we had a good many ready to begin work,
Aunty, as I called the woman I was helping said to me The next
web that will come will be thine, big or little. That was to be
my wages for my summer work, the price of the web for bleaching. The
first was a very good big web from Frank Matthews, Ballahowin.

Bleaching linen wasnt easy work. I was fourteen years of age
at the time I was helping Aunty. I was pretty strong. Auntys
mother was a bleacher before her. There were two houses in the field
near the river, one to keep the linens in, the other had a big boiler
or as aunty called it the furnace, that was where we boiled the
linen. First we stayed the river, put a lot of stones across to make
a big pool, then put as many linens as the furnace would hold in the
river pooi, and stamped them until they were quite wet; then we put
them in the furnace in cold water with a quantity of fearn ashes. We
got cartloads of small bushy gorse from the mountain. People
didnt pay for gorse or ling in those days as they do now. Then
I sat to put gorse under the furnace until the linens were well
boiled. When boiled enough they were lifted into a wheelbarrow and
put in the pool in the river, and we stamped them well again. Then we
lifted them onto a big fine granite stone, set for the purpose, and
beat them with wooden sladdans, then turned them in the river again,
and washed them well, and spread them on the grass along the river
side to dry, and when they were dry, I went with the watering can,
several times  as soon as they were dry, wet them again. They
would be a day and a night on one side, and the next day turned the
other side and treated in the same way, and so on, until all was
finished.

Some days I went to the side of the mountain to cut and burn fearn
to make ashes to bleach the linens.

I never came in tack with the fairies. A woman told me that when
she was a girl she had been a day burning fearn, and went the next
day to take it home. When she had it ready she couldnt find her
way home, everything was strange. She walked around to find her way
and couldnt find it. She got frightened and tired, so she sat
down and blessed herself and all came right; she saw the way clear.
The fairies had her. We had fairies round our house. I never saw one,
but I have heard them talk and laugh and blow a bugle. I wonder where
they are all gone, we were not afraid of them.

Aunty was a thorough Manx woman. She never spoke English to me, so
I got a good training in Manx.

When people came with linen to be bleached and when they came to
get it, and she tried to talk English to them, it was painful to her
to talk English, but she was a good soul. She loved me and I her.
When I stayed at home all day, I had to sleep with her at night, and
she would say, Nell, voght, vel oocheet,
bareihiam fakin oona yn kiannoort, yn aspick, ny yn yen
rein. (Nell, dear, have thou come, I would rather see thee than the
governor, bishop or queen).

KIRK MICHAEL BURIALS IN THE YEAR 1755

The Right Reverend Father in God Doctor Thomas Wilson, Lord Bishop
of Sodor and Mann. buried in the churchyard near the east gable of
the church, March 11th. His Lordships grave (by directions left
previous to his death) was made nine feet deep, and walled round with
brick. This great judge and eminent pattern of primitive
Chrisitianity was born Dec. 20th, 1663 at Sunton near Chester, in
which city he had his school education and from thence was sent to
the University of Dublin where he took the Degree of Bachelor of
Arts; and in 1626 was ordained Deacon by the Bishop of Kildare. He
continued in Ireland to serve the church, till the disturbance in
King Janes reign drove him into England, where he became curate
to his uncle the Rev. Dr. Sherlock, Rector of Winwick. After some
years he was made tutor to Lord Strange, son of the Earl of Derby,
and afterwards was promoted by the said Earl to the Bishoprick of
Sodor and Mann.

He was consecrated by Dr. Sharp, Archbishop of York, assisted by
the Bishop of Chester and Northwich in the Saray Church, London on
the 16th January, 1697 and on the 3rd March following was created
Doctor of Divinity in a full congregation at Oxford. He immediately
passed over into the Isle of Man, where he resided ever since in
great reputation and honour, for his piety, exemplary life,
hospitatily and extensive charity.

He sat in this see upwards of half a century and died universally
lamented in the fifth year of his consecration and 92 of his age.

EXTRACTS FROM KIRK RUSHEN BURIALS

17-9-1831 Robert Quayle, aged 30

"This person was knocked overboard by the boom in Derby Haven bay,
together with another man Wm. Moore who was also lost on Saturday
evening the 3rd instant and the body of the former was found
yesterday".

25-10-1831 Richard Sansbury, aged 54.

"This person fell overboard his boat in Port le morrey (Port St.
Mary) bay two weeks ago and the body was found yesterday".

25-9-1834 Thomas Karran, aged 36

"This person perished at sea on Friday the 12th instant, off
Langness Point, having fallen overboard while in the act of shaking
nets, when coming to the harbour with a considerable quantity of
herrings. The body was found on the day previous to its
interment".

December 1834 Wm. Reed, of the sloop Friends, aged
16

"This person perished in the Sound near the Calf being one of the
crew of a Sloop lost there".

22-11-1835 James Gorree, aged 41.

"This person was found drowned in the Harbour of Port St. Mary
having fallen over the Quay in the night".

22-8-1836 A person found drowned in Fleshwick

"Supposed to be John Fitzsimmons or Ardlas, Ireland who with 4
others was drowned off Bradda Head on Thursday 28th July in a storm
which came suddenly.

24-8-1836 Another person found off Port Iron.

"Supposed to be Charles Murphy one of the above alluded to".

1836

"N.B. James Lowey, Edward Kinley and John Corkish were on their
return from Whitehaven on Friday 28th October, 1836, with a cargo of
coals but a storm coming on their boat was driven on shore near St.
Bees Head and all hands perished".

18-2-1837

"Two men found on part of a ship on the Calf of Man were buried on
the 18-2-837. One man had a Bible in his pocket with the name John
Salters in it from the Lower Tolls (or Tills) near Belfast,
Ireland".

12-3-1849 Wm Karran, Cregneish, aged 39.

"This person was killed at Spanish Head whilst he was at work with
four other men quarrying lintels, part of the top of the precipice
fell upon this person and caused his death. The other men escaped
without much injury".

H.M. BRIG OF WAR RACEHORSE
1822

There is no memorial to this ship at Malew, save where it is
mentioned on the following gravestones in the old ground.

124 IMO/
Mr. THOS. WM BONE of London/
aged 24 years/
Midshipman of H.M. Her Majestys Sloop RACEHORSE wrecked on
the/
scarangs an the night of the 14th/
December, 1822, who unfortunately/
perished with five of the crew/
and three Manxmen who fell victims/
to their humane persevering/
and undaunted conduct in endeavouring/
to save the crew of the ship/
he was a gallant and promising/
young officer whose death will! be felt with deep regret/
by officers and crew.

1064 Here repose the remains! of NORRIS BRIDSON of Castletown/
who was drowned! in the humane act of saving/
the officers and crew of H.M./
Sloop RACEHORSE when wreckd/
on the scarangs/
near the said town/
the 14th December 1822/
he lived 27 years and having/
borne an unsullied character/
his fate is much lamented.

1017 (Almost illegible) The date 1822 and parts of words suggest
that this stone is in memory of one of the three Manxmen who died
rescuing officers and crew of H.M. Brig Racehorse, wrecked off
Langness in 1822 i.e. THOMAS S. HALL

(HALL and not WALL, see 1019 His
Widows Headstone?)

1019 Sacred/
TTMO MARGARET /
Widow of the late THOMAS HALL/
who died! the 25th March 1851/
in the 56th year/ of her age.

517 This May be the third Manxman i.e. ROBERT QUAYLE
here lieth the body of/
THOMAS CRETNEY who departed/
this life the 6th of July 1806/ aged 72 years/
and also his wife JANE CRETNEY/
who departed this life the/
23rd of July 1802 aged 60 years/
IMO ROBERT QUAYLE OF/
CASTLETOWN. WHO DEPARTED THIS/
LIFE THE 14TH OF DECEMBER 1822/
AGED 42 YEARS

MEN LOST FROM RACEHORSE (Taken from Captain Sucklings letter
reporting wreck, wnitten 18.12.1822).